Ex-Jersey fire chief gets 6 years in prison after using work computer to distribute child porn
TRENTON, NJ (WTXF) - A former chief of the Audubon Park Volunteer Fire Company in Camden County, N.J. has been sentenced to state prison for using a work computer to share child pornography.
46-year-ols John Terruso of Marlton, N.J., was sentenced to six years in state prison, including three years of parole ineligibility. Terruso pleaded guilty on May 30 to charges of second-degree distribution of child pornography and third-degree possession of 100 or more files of child pornography.
Terruso must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life. He also is permanently barred from public office and employment.
In pleading guilty, Terruso admitted that he knowingly used Internet file-sharing software to make multiple files of child pornography available for any other user to download from shared folders that he controlled on a fire station computer.
Terruso was arrested on June 10, 2015 at the fire station, where investigators executed a search warrant and discovered more than 1,000 files of suspected child pornography on computer equipment used by Terruso.
Authorities kickstarted their investigation when a special agent of ICE Homeland Security Investigations was monitoring a file-sharing network and identified an Internet Protocol address that traced back to a fire station's computer where child pornography was available in a shared folder. The folder included videos of prepubescent girls engaging in sexual acts with adult males, as well as videos of prepubescent boys engaging in sexual acts with other boys and adult males.
"A fire chief is supposed to be a guardian of public safety and a person children look up to, but Terruso instead used his position and public equipment to participate in the cruel exploitation of children by distributing child pornography," said Attorney General Porrino. "This lengthy prison sentence is appropriate punishment for his vile betrayal. The reality is that child pornography and those who share it can be found anywhere, as this case illustrates," said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. "We're sending a message that we'll find and punish these offenders, regardless of their status or position."
"Victims are abused over and over with every view of a sexually explicit image or video of a minor," acting Special Agent in Charge Debra Parker of HSI Newark. "Homeland Security Investigations will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice public officials who betray the trust of the community by engaging in unscrupulous behavior."
Attorney General Porrino and Director Honig urged anyone with information about distribution of child pornography on the Internet, or about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children, to please contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.